ptsd Ptsd Or Adjustment Disorder With Depressed Mood?

[youngmp3]

So I have recently applied for disability and have a few questions about my SC list of disabilities. First off I was diagnosed with PTSD at the beginning of this year (2014) after suffering and fighting this condition for the past 4 years. I never sought treatment because to be honest, I was scared of the results i would hear. Here is a list of the disabilities I am trying to claim. this is exactly how it was written on my VA FORM 21-526EZ.

1. Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood

2. TBI w/ memory loss

3. PTSD

4. Sleep disorder (insomnia)

5. Right knee condition s/p acute meniscal tear

6. restless leg syndrome

7. residual scars on hands, shoulders, and chest

8. tinnitus

9. ringing of the ears

Okay now my question is, which rating will i get the Adjustment disorder with depressed mood or PTSD? During my counseling meetings with my social worker she never said anything about adjustment disorder. The only thing she told me was that I was diagnosed with PTSD. All of the research I have done shows that the VA is now rating people with the Adjustment Disorder in order to cut down on spending. I was wondering what the chances are that the VA will see this and recognize that they think I should be rated under that and not the PTSD.

Please help me with this so I can get everything sorted out quickly. I can answer any questions if needed. Feel free to ask. Thank you

[youngmp3]

Can anyone give me any type of answer?

[rmoreno]

Hey Young,

I think that is just going to be up to the shrink. I believe it would be hard to say by anyone what they will rate you with. If you have paperwork that says PTSD, there might be a better chance at it. The VA will try to low ball you. That being said, get rated first, then submit a NOD and describe why you think it was a wrong determination. Make sure you have paperwork to back up your claims. Good Luck!

[john999]

Some of these conditions the VA will combine. They will combine all the mental health disorders including the sleep problems unless you have OSA. The hearing conditions will be combined. The TBI, Knee and scars are stand alone issues I think. Make sure they don't try and combine the TBI with PTSD and give you one rating for both. If you are tying to get 100% or TDIU then I would pursue the PTSD and TBI the hardest. The other things will get you an odd 10% or 20% but the PTSD and TBI are probably going to get you the most. How bad was the TBI? Did you have a penetrating head wound? it is all a guess until you have your C&P exams which will give you an idea of what you may get.

John

[youngmp3]

I was hit by an IED in april of 2011 and had a MASE exam taken two weeks after the blast. I was far from the FOB and I didnt think that it would get this bad. I failed two MASE exams two weeks after the blast back to back then finally passed one a week after that. Later on in my career I sought help from the deployment heath department. The diagnosed me positive with PTSD and then after talking about being hit by an 80 pounder, I was transferred over to have a TBI screening done. When the specialist looked into my record it never showed that I had failed any MASE exams!!! and only stated that I had barely passed one. After getting seen by a the specialist she stated in my paperwork that on the GLASCOW COMA SCALE i was rated an 13-15 which says it to be minor. However it does state in here that i had LOC for less than an hour and i currently suffer from short and long term memory loss.

I dont know how I will get rated and dont think that I should be at 100%. I honestly dont know what to expect. Thank you for the fast response JOHN999.

Edited April 16, 2014 by youngmp3

[Berta]

VA has dug deeper into TBI research in the past few years began.

In our TBI forum there is a lot of information that can help you.

I replied to your questions yesterday , but cannot find the reply....did you post in 2 different forums?